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Steve Holland is impressed by how JJ Gabriel has adapted to training with Manchester United’s first team at the tender age of 15.
Manchester United are always trying to produce players from the academy for the first team.
While there have been multiple additions to United’s list of academy graduates this season, Kobbie Mainoo remains the prime example from the current first team, after making 92 senior appearances for the club thus far.
United fans are always eager to see who will be the next gem to emerge from the academy, but there’s no denying that JJ Gabriel is the cause of a lot of excitement at Carrington right now.
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He’s been playing against 18-year-olds all season, but how good will he be in three years?
Photo by Anthony Devlin/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty ImagesJJ Gabriel impresses Steve Holland in Man Utd training
Few youngsters at United are attracting the same attention as Gabriel.
Gabriel scored twice against Derby County’s U18s in a 6-1 win on Wednesday, and he is aiming for success in the FA Youth Cup this season.
Among the hype, which United fans will hope is warranted, Gabriel has been compared to Ryan Giggs.
Gabriel is too young to make his Premier League debut this season, but that won’t be the case next season, granted he keeps going from strength to strength in that period of time.
According to The Mirror, United coaches, including Steve Holland, have been ‘impressed’ with how Gabriel has adapted to the step up in first-team training.
It is noted that some people even consider Gabriel to be a future Ballon d’Or winner.
Holland has worked with top players at Chelsea and England in the past, so he knows a gem when he sees one.
The youngster seemingly has the world at his feet, and he couldn’t be at a better club to achieve his goals.
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Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
At the age of 15, Gabriel has scored more goals than any other player in the U18 Premier League (16).
Gabriel has scored a total of 18 across all competitions for the U18s. These figures suggest Gabriel is finding it a breeze when playing against players who are, in most cases, three years younger than him.
If the youngster continues playing at his level for the youth teams, it’s only a matter of time before he is fast-tracked into first-team action, even if he must wait until next season.
Gabriel has plenty of time to develop his game at United, but early signs suggest he has the world at his feet.
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